Flu has sole U.S. surgical mask producer scrambling (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Ed Lavandera
CNN

RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (CNN) -- The machines are buzzing as dozens of workers package freshly made surgical masks. More than 1 million will be made in one day inside Prestige Ameritech's manufacturing facility near Fort Worth, Texas.

The swine flu outbreak has made this small company a big deal.

"Everyone knows who we are now," said Mike Bowen, executive vice president of the surgical mask manufacturer. "It's actually been pretty crazy."

Prestige Ameritech is ramping up production. For the first time in the company's history, it will be manufacturing masks 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bowen also is looking to hire up to 20 workers to handle the workload.

Ever since Bowen and his business partner, Dan Reese, showed up to work Monday morning, the phones haven't stopped ringing. With the World Health Organization and national governments confirming cases of swine flu in at least 11 countries, orders for masks are coming in from around the world.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/swine.flu.masks/

[hedgehog]

1. "Most surgical masks are made in Mexico and China."

It's all a plot to boost sales!

[NJmaverick]

2. IMPORATANT NOTE- Surgical Masks are good for those that are sick to wear

they will help them reduce the spread of their illness. HOWEVER surgical masks will not protect the healthy. The only masks that will provide protection to the healthy are N-95 respirators.

[MercutioATC]

5. More disinformation.

Masks are not meant to be 100% protection, but they DO provide a level of protection to the healthy.

They provide a barrier to droplet spray (coughs and sneezes).

They prevent one from touching their mouth and nose.


Not a complete solution but one hell of a lot better than nothing.

[NJmaverick]

6. You better not be saying that about my information

I will tell you this, Holiday Inn Express expert, I am CERTIFIED to train other fit testers for the N-95 respirators. The N-95 respirator is a HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestor) mask that will be 95% successful in stopping all particles .3 microns or greater. Most flu viruses are at that .3 micron level (there are viruses that can be smaller). While the masks are not 100% effective, they will provide adequate protection (assuming it fits properly and worn properly- which is what the fit testing is for) because it takes more than one or two virus particles to create an infection condition (for most people).

[MercutioATC]

7. If you're saying that they're of no value to the healthy, I am.

Your own information contradicts that notion.

No, they're nowhere near 100% effective, but at less that $1.00 each they're a cheap layer of protection for the healthy.

[NJmaverick]

8. Stick to opinions about politics and leave Public Health to the professionals

that's my advice to you.

[MercutioATC]

10. Ok, genius...if N95 masks DO provide at least a partial barrier (as you admit),

why are they of no use to the healthy?

(on edit)

Upon rereading, I see your statements pertained to N95 respirators, not masks.


That said, the CDC still disagrees with your contention.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Here is a use for the masks that people scoffing at this miss

their use in preventing the spread is questionable at best... that is true

BUT

Here is where they help... and why I do expect to see them in otherwise healthy individuals

1.- Those who scoff this take it a little more seriously

2.- Those who feel they have lost control, common in disasters, are doing something proactive, which is good for the psyche

On the down side, there is one... assuming we have full blown, they also increase risky behavior

They also have the side benefit of keeping hands off face

And this is the angle most specialists who stick to the actual data are not looking at

The you should wear masks in Japan, all over Asia and Mexico was done for the psychological end of the spectrum... but call me silly if you wish

[NJmaverick]

21. The problem is all the Holiday Inn Express experts lack the experience

to put the situation into its proper perspective. If you have been in public health for a period of time you have a far better feel for what's happening. It's like telling a non-baseball fan what a players batting average is. You could explain to them what a batting average is, but because they don't have the experience of following the game, they don't have the ability to assess the signficance of it..

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Yeah, and for me... it is seeing a plan I helped developed

in a very, early, as in diapers stage, implemented in front of me....

It was and still is very eerie

Surreal, but for other reasons than the usual

[NJmaverick]

32. "surreal", that explains a everything

[kestrel91316]

20. You need to take your own advice, as you are not a medical professional.

And yes, I am.

[NJmaverick]

22. Medical professionals are some of the worse when it comes to public health

so take your own advice.

[kestrel91316]

35. Tell that to LA County Public Health, who gave me a letter of commendation

a number of years ago. I have a degree in microbiology first of all, which includes several top university courses on virology and immunology including laboratory classes. I have a DVM, which does NOT mean my brains got sucked out for 4 years. We had to learn a hell of a lot of graduate level virology, immunology, and epidemiology just to get through, and I have 27 years of practice throughout which I have had a special interest in zoonoses and public health issues.

So stuff a sock in your insults. I'm pulling rank, Mr. Mask Fitter.

[NJmaverick]

42. Well judging by your posts, you don't understand the field

and your comments not well informed. Then again a degree in biology doesn't give you any rank to pull, although it would get you a sales job with a drug company.

PS- I have one of those letters from my county health department. They give them out to score political points, it doesn't confer on you any knowledge of the public health profession.

[MercutioATC]

45. Perhaps you could enlighten us as to your qualifications, NJmaverick...

...other than being a respirator fit instructor, that is...

[NJmaverick]

47. That is just a small part of it

I have 15 years in the hospital business, 24 years in Emergency Medical Services and now 5 years in public health. I started with a degree in engineer, during which I designed a knee brace that I later published a paper on. I am a certified EMT as well have Heavy Rescue. I know am a public health emergency messaging coordinator and medical reserve corp coordinator for an agency that is involved in public health preparedness for things like bio-terrorism attacks and pandemic outbreaks. My job is to inform and educate people like you and the lab tech. I am also the one that teaches our lab tech friend how to protect themselves from infection. I have training in surviving virtually every sort of dangerous environment known. That includes fires, confined spaces, blood born illness risks, hazardous materials, biological and chemical attacks and air borne illness environments. I have been trained in and worked with nearly every type of PPE that is out there. I just roll my eyes that the ignorance and arrogance that is displayed by some here at DU. People that have no clue, no training and no experience presuming to lecture me because they sell drugs or work or in lab or worse have no background what so ever in either the health care or public health professions. It's a shame, it really is.

I have had to work with and teach PPE protection through the introduction of:

AIDS
drug resistant TB
SARS
Hep C
Anthrax
and now H1N1 Influenza

Because of my current job I have had copious amounts of training the flu, pandemics proper precautions etc. In real life I teach others how to protect themselves from TB, Aids, Small Pox, Anthrax etc. I am certified to do so. Beyond being certified I have been and still (to a lesser degree these days) tasked with ensuring others are properly protecting themselves when working in dangerous situations. Unfortunately all that is required for people to post dangerous misinformation is a keyboard and a DU membership.

[kestrel91316]

12. N95 respirators are not 100% effective either, lol.

Surgical masks do a great job of limiting spread of flu simply by keeping spewed fluid droplets from going far or going directly into an adjacent person's nose.

Cheap, easy, practical, and they HELP. Nothing is a 100% guarantee against spread.

[NJmaverick]

23. No shiite sherlock thay is why the are called N-95 the 95 stands for it's 95% efficiency

however telling people that wearing a surgical mask will protect them is beyond irresponsible. It's closer to criminal.

[MercutioATC]

27. Perhaps the issue is the word "protection"

By definition, N95 masks only filter 95% of stuff .3 microns or larger. It's not complete protection. When you add fit issues, the protection efficiency drops further.

However, N95 masks are inexpensive and they DO provide some level of protection. Yes, it would be irresponsible to suggest that they offer 100% protection. It's also irresponsible to suggest that they provide NO protection to healthy people.

[NJmaverick]

31. I am through wasting my time. I posted the facts for those wise enough to listen

the rest are on their own.

[MercutioATC]

36. Well, since the CDC doesn't agree...

...and your only response is that yes, the CDC recommends wearing N95 masks but we're all just not bright enough to understand that they really don't mean it...

...and you seem to believe your job as a mask fitting instructor uniquely qualifies you as a "public health professional" while actual professionals here are "Holiday Inn Express experts"...

...and you're rude and dismissive and I don't think you could find your ass with both hands and a flashlight...


...I'm happy that you're through wasting your time with us.

[NJmaverick]

43. Funny as I have sat in on 3 or 4 conference calls with the CDC

I think I am in a better position that you, as to what they agree with and what they don't agree with.

[MercutioATC]

44. Oh good! Since you talk to them on a regular basis, can you ask why they lie on their own web page?

It's funny, what they say to you seems to be different than what they say to the rest of the world...


Or, perhaps, you're speaking of this CDC:

http://w3.cultdeadcow.com/cms/

[NJmaverick]

46. They didn't lie they were careful in their choice of words

basically they are saying for those that are scared a surgical mask will not help, but no where does it say it will give you proper protection. A fact that I have already stated and if people were not so full of themselves I would have only had to say once.

[kestrel91316]

17. Here's what CDC has to say:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm

"When it is absolutely necessary to enter a crowded setting or to have close contact with persons who might be ill, the time spent in that setting should be as short as possible. If used correctly, facemasks and respirators may help reduce the risk of getting influenza, but they should be used along with other preventive measures, such as avoiding close contact and maintaining good hand hygiene. A respirator that fits snugly on your face can filter out small particles that can be inhaled around the edges of a facemask, but compared with a facemask it is harder to breathe through a respirator for long periods of time."

"When crowded settings or close contact with others cannot be avoided, the use of facemasks or respirators in areas where transmission of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has been confirmed should be considered as follows:
1 - Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of facemasks or respirators, close contact with people who might be ill and being in crowded settings should be avoided.
2 - Facemasks should be considered for use by individuals who enter crowded settings, both to protect their nose and mouth from other people's coughs and to reduce the wearers' likelihood of coughing on others; the time spent in crowded settings should be as short as possible.
3 - Respirators should be considered for use by individuals for whom close contact with an infectious person is unavoidable. This can include selected individuals who must care for a sick person (e.g., family member with a respiratory infection) at home.
These interim recommendations will be revised as new information about the use of facemasks and respirators in the current setting becomes available."

~~~~~~~~~~

IMHO people who spread the blatant misinformation about masks, saying they are useless, probably own stock in the companies that make n95 respirators.

[MercutioATC]

18. Quandry: Do I trust the "professional mask fitter" or the CDC?

I think I'll go with the CDC.

[NJmaverick]

25. Perhaps Darwin's laws will play out

[MercutioATC]

28. Perhaps.

I'll opt for partial protection over none at all.

[kestrel91316]

19. CDC DOES recommend n95 respirators for flu lab workers:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_labworkers.htm

If anybody can find a CDC recommendation that the general public should wear these respirators, I'll eat my shoes.

[NJmaverick]

26. You lack the understandings of the basic subject matter to even begin to grasp

how clueless you sound. Leave public health to the professionals. What I told you is correct, what you are trying to comprehend, with out the requisite back ground knowledge, is not.

[NJmaverick]

24. If you actually understood what you are reading

you would know they are referring to an N-95 when they talk about respirators. That's why they are not reccommended for those coming in contact with the sick AND they are very careful to explain the limited benefits they offer when coming into contact with the general public. I can't believe how DUers are playing games with a public health issue. This isn't like saying if you think Hillary should be VP, this is real and the Holiday Inn Express experts here are dangerous.

[kestrel91316]

33. Don't presume to lecture me on public health, lol.

CDC does NOT recommend N95s or any other "respirator" for the general public because of the fitting and discomfort issues. Face masks are fine with them for most people.

Medical and lab personnel are the only ones CDC says MAY need to use N95s. You are the one who needs to learn how to read.

N95s are impractical, uncomfortable, unrealistic, and overkill for the man on the street, when a molded surgical mask will suffice.

[NJmaverick]

40. When it's clear that you don't understand, I will make an effort to teach you

On top of that your straw man arguments are pretty comical. I told you (and unlike you I didn't have to research it on the web, I have sat in on 3 or 4 CDC conference calls this week as well as with the state and local HDs) what will and will not work. You can play the typical DU intellectually dishonest games, but what I said is 100% correct. I have little use in fear mongers or game players. So find someone else to play with. I have put out the facts and those smart enough and wise enough will listen.

[kestrel91316]

34. I'm not a "Holiday Inn Express" expert, lol. I'm a real one.

[NJmaverick]

41. You have already admitted you don't have a back ground in public health

You shallow understanding of the field has lead you to take a mistaken position.

[Echo In Light]

3. ...thought this flu panic was already being blown off as a big zero?

[crimsonblue]

4. FAIL.

The swine flu isn't that bad. It's no worse than the normal flu. Those susceptible to bad side effects normal flu (infants, elderly, people with depressed immune systems) are more susceptible to bad effects of swine flu. the average person is not going to die from swin flu, just as the average person is not going to die from the normal flu. Get a clue about the flu, people!

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. The people who have died have mostly been in the young and healthy

category

You know that right?

[Jeep789]

16. I agree with most of your post but the FAIL is inappropriate

OP just posted a news story and fact, nothing to fail. The reason for the mask shortage may well be hysteria but that is no reason to FAIL the op. I really dislike when people post FAIL unless it is an obvious Freeper using false facts.

[StarryNite]

9. Masked people...

I actually saw a mother and son wearing masks at Wal-Mart today. But considering it was Wal-Mart that's probably not such a bad idea to do every time you go there. :)

[dysfunctional press]

11. i saw a woman today shopping at meier's wearing one...

and the store was almost empty.

[Jeep789]

15. lol nt

[frylock]

29. i'm wearing a full NBC suit..

i don't fuck around.

[shadowknows69]

37. Give me a grant I'll start a medical mask business in a week!

More lucrative will be the earnings of the person that finally comes up with the BULLSHIT DETECTOR.

[tomreedtoon]

39. Look at your icon, Shadow. You already have a mask!

Just wash that red bandana every day and you have a better mask than those guys can produce. More stylish, too.

[rainbow4321]

38. The ticket checker on our lightrail system had a mask on

You could tell people were a little caught off guard when he got on the train and yelled like they always do "tickets please" and when we all looked up at him, we saw his masked face.
I've started bringing degermer gel with me in a little travel bottle just to have some protection. I do wonder at what point, if at all, that Dallas will put any restrictions on DART passengers. As often as these trains run back and forth, I can't see them having time to sanitize them very often.
I also wonder if the guy's mask was his idea of if DART (his employer) is telling them to wear one.